Why are young adults less happy than ever before?

A new research paper based on findings from six English-speaking countries suggests young adults are much less happy than generations before them.

The United Nations-commissioned study published by the United States-based National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) reveals a consistent drop in life satisfaction and happiness among young adults in the last decade. Co-authored by San Diego State University psychologist Jean Twenge and Dartmouth University economist David G Blanchflower, the research looked at data collected from 11 surveys across Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the US.

But studies from other parts of the world appear to suggest that these results broadly also hold true there.

The conclusions of the study by Blanchflower and Twenge upend the long-held belief that happiness follows a U-shaped curve.What has the research found?
The researchers say a decline in unhappiness is especially apparent in younger adults and adolescents aged 12 to 25, many of whom are facing depression and psychological distress at rates that are much higher than those who are just several years older.

Meanwhile, older adults still experience increasing life satisfaction with age.

The shocking shift has raised concerns that younger generations are facing unprecedented challenges in a post-COVID world, especially with the rise of digital technology and economic uncertainty.What’s behind this generational downturn?
According to the study’s findings, there is a clear correlation between a decline in happiness and increased internet usage, in an era of smartphones and social media. That, say the researchers, is the main point of difference between younger generations today and those before them.

The internet is the “main contender” for blame, Blanchflower told Al Jazeera. “Nothing else fits the facts.”

In 2024, a Pew Research Survey found that three in four American teenagers felt happy or peaceful when they were without their smartphones. Researchers behind a 2024 study showing that British teenagers and preteens were the least happy in Europe also concluded that social media was a key reason.

Blanchflower’s assertion appears to be backed up by research in other nations worldwide, including the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, where more and more youths are gaining access to smartphones.